Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-06-03
MEMORIAL EXERCISES.
The Observance of Decoration Day at
Mineral Point.

bers of George Fl. Legate Post, G. A R..
assembled at the hall of the Post, and
details were sent to the different GEM
eteries, where they deposited flowers
on the graves of dead comrades.
As the weather was threatening
with occasional light showers of rain
it was decided to hold the afternoon
services in the City Hall instead of the
grove. A procession consisting OF
the Legate Drum corps, the members
of the Post, the Mineral Point band
and children with wreaths of flowers
formed in front of the city hall and
marched up High street to Iowa street
and countermarchedb back again to the
hall. where the memorial services were
held. The band opened with appro-
pirate music. after which followed the
Grand Army memorial services, and a
song by Messrs. J. p. Hankins, 5. L.
Osborne and Thomas Angwin. Hon.
NJ. NJ. Cothren, mayor of the city, and
president of the day, then made the
following Introductory remarks:
FELLOW CITIZENS: The occasion of
this assemblage here and elsewhere
throughout the land is one of profound
interest to the thinking mind. 1t is
not merely because death has prema-
turely robbed the world of its brightest
Ornaments-because death of the cor
poreal body must come to all. 1t is
not because young lives have been
rudely torn from the most endearing
relations of human life, for young
life is subject to the fell destroyer at
all periods of existence. These are
subjects of interest and awaken SEN
timents of tenderest thought.
But the great subject for profound
thought is the cause which resulted in
death. The war in which they were
engaged was not war for conquest.
1t was not a war for additional ter
ritory, or to subject other people to
servitude. 1t was unlike
any other war known in history. The
south, in precipitating the tremendous
conflict, sincerely thought that they
had right to break every human en-
gagement when the performance of
their agreement became distasteful.
They forgot in their misguided self
aSsertiveness, that the end of civiliZa-
ton is to compel men to abide by
their solemn contracts. They forgot
that the territory that they claimed as
theirs, by the bonds of solemn COM
pact. by the bonds of common blood,
and common treasure, belonged as
much to the north as to the south.
They forgot that in claiming the right
of revolution they were not only
breaking the most solemn compact be-
tween sovereignties and peoples, but
were attempting to rob their fellow
citizens of their free born American
right to the protection
of the general government in every
state of the south--the right to the
protection of life and person, and
according to the state laws
of every state, if any person from the
north chose to take up his abode in
the south They forgot that in setting
up claim to the public domain they
were guilty of trying to rob the north
of its portion of the public property.
The north fought not to rob, not to
take anything from the south, but in
defence of their right to citizenship, to
life and to property.
The south might have gone to Mex
leo or to any other country, and the
north could never have said no. But
when they said you of the north can
no longer come here and enjoy your
own, the north said we will-you shall
not rob us-you shall keep your agree
ment with us to bear your portion of
the common expense of carrying on
the government. And the result was
a glorious one for the cause of human
right and human justice.
This is a subject for profound
thought second only to the adoption
of the glorious principles of the i'm
mortal declaration of American indie
pendence. But while this great sub
iect for thought is before us, we forget
not the tender memories that cluster
around the graves of the loved ones.
We deck the graves with flowers. We
dwell fondly over the memory of
every virtue that was theirs. We set
the example for the young to cherish
the memory of heroes, and we incul-
cate love of country, of patriotism,
and of Justice. And we sing:
" Bring flowers to the shrine when we kneel in
prayer;
They are natures Offering; their place is there.
They speak of hope to the fainting heart;
With voice of promise they come and part;
Though they sleep in death through the wintry
hours,
They break forth in glory; bring flowers. fresh
flowers"
" Bring flowers, fresh flowers, over the bier to
A crown for the brow of the early dead.
For this through its leaves was the white rose
For this in the wood was the violet nursed.
Though they smile in vain for what once was
ours
They are loves last offering bring flowers, bright
flowers"
At the conclusion of Judge Goth
ren's remarks prayer was offered up
by Rev. NJ. Chase, of Trinity church.
The roll call of the dead was conducted
by Hon. George G. Cox and Adjutant
j. H. Tyack, and the children pre-
sented their wreaths. The grafton
was delivered by Rev, Father Valley,
pastor of st. Bridgets church. Ridge
way. Father Valley resided in the
south in ante bellum days, and he
told of the horrors of slavery and the
slave market which came under his
personal observation at that time. At
the breaking out of the war he advo-
Gated the Union cause, and encour-
aged the enlistment of troops in re-
Spouse TO the call of president Lincoln.
In the war he served as an army chap
lain; and he gave his audience graphic
description of some dreadful scenes
which he had witnessed on the battle
field. He expressed profound admira-
ton for the gallant boys in blue who
had fought in the cause of liberty and
union: and was confident that their
memory will be peFpetuated by gen.
erationS yet to come. He is . fluent,
easy speaker, and spoke with the ear
nest enthusiasm of patriot, and the